Question about platets

[Roar123]

I know platets are low with cirhosis but are they low in only decompensated or are they low with compensated as well

[DavyGravy]

Hi Roar

I have low platelets and I have Fibrosis so I guess low platelets can be with Fibrosis, cirrhosis or possibly unrelated to liver disease.

Merry Christmas

Dave

[Roar123 in reply to DavyGravy]

I've heard they can be low with fibrosis as well y, forgot to mention that. What was the cause for your fibrosis if you don't mind me asking? Hepatitis?

[DavyGravy in reply to Roar123]

Yes I have hepatitis C but technically as hepatitis means inflammation of the liver I guess we must almost all have hepatitis 🙂 my consultant said my inflamed liver was beating up my spleen causing the low platelets

[Roar123 in reply to DavyGravy]

Sorry for all the questions but low.platets can be seen in fibrosis without hepatitis as well, no? Depending on how advanced it is I'm assuming

[DavyGravy in reply to Roar123]

Low platelets can be caused by arthritis, an autoimmune problem, anaemia, cancer and other things besides heavy alcohol consumption. My consultant believes it is caused by my hep c but it might equally be caused by my arthritis. mine are between 80 and 90. People who have chemotherapy can be very very low under 30

[Roar123 in reply to DavyGravy]

Okay appreciate the response. I don't have low platets, I'm at 286, I was told I have a fatty liver about a year and a half ago due to medication it seems but my diet was really poor and it continued for a year after diagnosis, I suspect that was the cause and not the actual meds cause studies show the one prescription I was taking has a rare chance to cause hepatic issues and that was at a wayyyy higher dose then i was taking, but the last couple of months my palms seem more red then usual, went for bloods everything came back normal and US shows mild fatty liver no lesions, so I was thinking maybe I'm at decompensated cirhosis but normal platets would say otherwise. So I don't know now, I'm lost on what to do, maybe I'll ask for a fibro scan. Also have a couple other symptoms that show a more serious liver problem 😕

[Zukosmile07 in reply to Roar123]

What are the other symptoms? (if It's ok to ask). 🤷Thanks Danny

[Roar123 in reply to Zukosmile07]

Well when I was first diagnosed I had swollen ankles, my left was swollen more then my right, it wasn't really really swollen but still noticeable, and also had a sharp pins and needles/throbbing type of feeling in my legs feet and thighs, the swelling as of today is gone down quite a bit and so has the pain it's almost non existing, I noticed recently tho sugar seems to make the pain/ throbbing feel worse. Doctor told me I have a fatty liver and to watch my diet and also continue taking the meds he didn't seem concerned over the ankles. About 6 months go by and I noticed my skin was itchy not badly itchy but noticeable, I was also nauseous all the time, that lasted for about a month and a half, not really anymore tho thankfully and I've been getting these purple dots on my body I counted 5 at most they were spread out from the bottom of my hip to my upper back, they have gone since, I maybe have 2 now where my liver is located they looked like spider naevi but without the legs coming from the center. Also for the itch I noticed just yesterday actually, sugar seems to cause it, I ate a chocolate bar yesterday and my upper back started to itch. Other then these visual symptoms in general I feel great, I have alot of energy and a huge appetite, I did bloods and a US last week everything was normal.US shows mild fatty liver no lesions.

[Ewife in reply to Roar123]

I know there's the school of thought that bloods can be normal with decompensated liver - but I don't think this is very common at all (dare I say, if at all) without something being very glaring somewhere. My husband is decompensated and virtually ALL of his bloods are out of range somehow, and I'm sure this would be much more the usual case. His cirrhosis was also picked up on an US too, so I'm sure there would have been some indication here if there was any cause for concern.By all means, get further tests for peace of mind, but I'm pretty sure you can be restful that your condition is under control and you can trust your Dr.

Trust this helps reassure you. Take care

[Roar123 in reply to Ewife]

I agree with you, if I had a more serious liver problem it would show in some way given I have all these visual symptoms, I read on this forum if you have symptoms then your bloods wouldn't be normal not sure how true that is tho. I'm waiting on a call from a hepto to schedule me but that probably won't be till after new years. I wrote in another reply about symptoms and all that if your curious. Thanks for responding

[DavyGravy in reply to Roar123]

I'm slightly confused.

Have you been told you have cirrhosis... or have you been told you just have a mildly fatty liver, bloods are normal, platelets in the extremely healthy range and are worried you have decompensated cirrhosis because of your ankles, spots and itching?

Itchy skin can be caused by many things , mine is caused by my type 2 diabetes, which people can have for 10 years before it gets to a point where it can be diagnosed. My itching is worse if I eat unheathily, sneaking a chocolate or white flour will make it itchier.

Your ankles could be completely unrelated to your fatty liver.

As for red dots, for me personally, unless I had 5000 red dots I would not be thinking I had purpura.

I hope your fibroscan goes well and makes you feel more confident about your health.

All of us with a fatty liver should be eating healthily. Occasionally we can sneak a little treat.

If I do it too often, I would feel guilty, my guilt would get my anxiety to punish me, usually by trying to convince me that insignificant things point to more serious issues. The best way to avoid anxiety is to follow doctors advice, if I eat healthily and exercise, I know that I am improving my health so I will not worry over the little things.

Dave

[mantana in reply to DavyGravy]

> Yes I have hepatitis C

Are you on treatment? Hepatitis C is fully curable nowadays.

[DavyGravy in reply to mantana]

Frohe Weihnachten or Merīkurisumasu ☃️🎅🎄

I am in the second week of my Harvoni antiviral tablets. I think they are working because I feel very cold and chills are a side effect of Harvoni.

Dave

[Ewife]

As I understand it, low platelet levels are due to enlarged spleen when they occur alongside cirrhosis. So I guess its not a specific side effect of cirrhosis in itself.....causes could be down to other illnesses or defects as Dave says. I also thought that enlarged spleen when occurring with cirrhosis that it's a side effect of Portal Hypertension. That's just my limited understanding, I stand to be corrected by others more knowledgeable🙂Atb

Xx

[Violet74 in reply to Ewife]

That's spot on its a right nuisance Imissed out on an operation because they were too low x

[Porcupine_Tree]

My platelets have been < 5 since I was diagnosed in 2004. Both Comp and Decomp

[MINTVCX]

Some article:"Liver function tests in identifying patients with liver disease"

"Platelet

The normal platelet (Plt) range is 140–440 (103/μL). The Plt values in the fibrosis stages 3 and 4 were significantly lower when compared to stage 0 (196 vs 229, P<0.05; 152 vs 229, P<0.05, respectively). When stages 1 and 2 were compared to stage 0, the P-value was not significant (226 vs 229, P>0.05; 223 vs 229, P>0.05, respectively)"

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Loobylou72]

I have decompensated liver and ascites due to Budd Chiarri syndrome. My platelets are fine at 286, although fell to 86 when changed anti coagulation drugs. May be due to chemo drugs as I have an MPN so on low dose chemo for blood cancer. It keeps my platelets down as they were high when liver issue discovered.